Improving the way healthcare professionals deliver different news to families during pregnancy or at birth: a qualitative study.

Receiving different news had a significant impact on parents' emotional and mental wellbeing. They remembered how professionals described their child, the quality of care and emotional support they received. The process had a significant impact on the parent-child relationship and the relationship between the family and healthcare professionals.Delivering different news was challenging for some healthcare professionals due to lack of training. Future training informed by parents' experiences should equip professionals to demonstrate empathy, compassion, provide a balanced description of conditions and make referrals for further care and support. This can minimise the negative psychological impact of the news, maximise psychological wellbeing of families and reduce the burden on primary care services.